2013 UB Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony set for Saturday, June 15

Three new members will be inducted into the University of Bridgeport (UB) Athletic Hall of Fame, Richard Ellis will receive the Fran Bacon Award for Lifetime Achievement in Coaching, and Tommy Valuckas will be honored with the inaugural Purple Knights Shield of Merit on Saturday, June 15.

The members of the UB Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2013 are the late Craig Pepin, Vito Savo, and Diahann Tabor.

The ceremony and dinner begin with a 6 p.m. reception in the Mr. and Mrs. Henry B. duPont Tower Room in the Arnold Bernhard Center on the UB campus. For ticket information, please contact the UB Athletic Department (203) 576-4017.

About the honorees:

Craig Pepin backstopped the UB men’s soccer team in net from 1969 to1972, when the Purple Knights finished second in the New England College Division. Pepin stands fourth all-time in career shutouts for a Bridgeport goalkeeper with 16.

Vito Savo was the Purple Knights’ ace on the mound from 1974-1977. In 1977, Vito was voted a New England Region All Star, as he ranked second in the region in earned run average.

Diahann Tabor was one of the true bright spots on the University of Bridgeport women’s basketball teams from 1989 to 1993. She ranks second all-time in career points scored (1,537) and career rebounds (800).

Richard Ellis served as captain of the swim team while serving as class president his freshman and junior years. He holds numerous United States Masters Swimming records and hundreds of Master Championship medals. After UB, Ellis coached for the New York Athletic Club swim team for 30 years; including several Olympic swimmers.

Tommy Valuckas carries on as the P.A. voice for Bridgeport basketball and makes occasional appearances behind the microphone at other events, and he can often be found at stadiums and gymnasiums throughout the region, supporting his beloved alma mater from the stands.

The UB Athletic Hall of Fame was formed in 1981, and this year marks the seventh year of a revitalization that began in 2006, after 15 years without a class being inducted. This year’s three inductees bring the total number of members to 78.Media contact: Chuck Sadowski, (203) 576-4726, csadowski@bridgeport.edu